Combined toothbrush and massaging device



COMBINED TOOTHBRUSH AND MASS-AGING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1948 IvaZyn R.K7Z7Z6Z INVENTOR BY 1 7 I I 1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 COMBINED I OO'I HBRUS H AND MASSAGING DEVICE Evalyn R. Kenna, New York, N. Y.

Application June 28, 1948, Serial No. 35,720

1 Claim.

This invention relates to tooth brushes, and

more particularly has reference to a device of this character which .can be used selectively either for brushing the teeth or for massaging them. 7

It is an important object of the invention to provide a device as described wherein the brush and massage members are readily removable, for the substitution of new for worn members, thus to permit one handle to serve indefinitely, as distinguished from conventional brushes in which the entire brush including the handle must be discarded when the tooth engaging portion thereof becomes worn.

Another important object is to provide a con struction as described wherein the brush and massage members are not only readily insertable or removed, but also, will be securely gripped when positioned for use.

Other important objects are to provide a device as stated which will be attractive, readily adjusted for use, easily manufactured at comparatively low cost, and which will be durable and capable of taking hard wear.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention oon sists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing one form of tooth brush constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified form.

Figure 6 is a section on line 86 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a view of a massage insert capable of substitution for the brush insert shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference characters 8 and 9 respectively designate oppositely extended and parallel arms integrally joined by an angularly disposed connecting portion H] at the middle of the device. The free end of arm 9 has a perpendicular end wall I l, and the free end of arm 8 has a perpendicular end wall l2, the respective end walls being extended in opposite directions as readily seen from Fig. 1.

These portions can all be integrally molded from plastic material or the like, as will be apparent. a

A rod 13 is approximately as long as the handle portion described above, and when the parts are assembled, this rod is preferably parallel to the arms 8 and 9 and disposed in a plane between the respective planes in which the arms lie.

At one end, rod I3 is provided with a head M, having a threaded neck that is engaged in threaded opening l5 formed in the end wall H. The connecting portion ID has a smooth walled opening [6 through which the rod l3 extends, and the end wall I2 is 'formed with a smooth walled opening ll. All the openings are'axially aligned. Thus, it will be seen that on threading of head l4 into opening 15 to its limit, the rod I 3 will be held in fixed association with the handle portion of the brush device, thus to hold assembled with said handle portion brush and massage members to be described.

One of these members is designated I8, and is formed as a brush member or insert. In Figs. 1 and 2, the brush insert [8 is shown in operative position, ready for use in cleaning the teeth. In this position, it is brought up against the end wall l2, and is held against movement to the right in Fig. 1 by a lug 19 formed integrally on the arm 8.

Rod 13 as may be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 extends in a line with the longitudinal center of the brush insert l8, the insert having a longitudinal groove 2| receiving the rod, that in the present instance is extended between parallel rows 22 of tufts or bristles. In the illustrated example, the bristles themselves will cooperate with the rod further to reduce the possibility of lateral displacement of the insert l8 relative to the arm 8.

As previously mentioned, the insert I8 is in operative position in the illustrated example. However, when the brush insert is not to be used, rod l3 can be partially withdrawn, and the insert positioned adjacent the angular wall l0, after which the rod is returned to its illustrated position. Then, the portion of arm 8 at the left in Fig. 1 is capable of use as a grip, so that the device can be used for the purpose of massaging the teeth. In massaging the teeth, a massage insert 23 is used, and this is formed of a resilient material, such as sponge rubber, the tooth engaging portion of which may be transversely curved as at 24.

The massage insert 23 rides along the arm 9 of the device so that it can be adjusted to opto fit snugly into the seat 29. the rod 32 holds it in position in the same man- 3 erative and inoperative positions respectively. In the illustrated example, the insert 23 is positioned toward the middle portion of the device, and in this position it is inoperative. To position it operatively, it is slid along the arm 9, up against end wall II.

From the above, it may be readily noted that the deviceaseabamepr selective usee'ithenfoi cleaning the teeth or massaging them, and in so using it, neither the insert [8 nor the insert 23 need be removed from the device. One is merely positioned operatively, while the other is positioned inoperatively. Thus, arms 8 and'9 are selectively usable as grips when the opposite end of the device has its insert positioned operatively. In no instance need the rod I 3 be removed, unless it is desired to replace one of the inserts with a new one, due to wear of the insert already on the device. When this ne cfessity arises, head I4 is threaded out of opening 15, and the rod iswithdrawn 'partially'from the handle portion, so that a new insert may be mounted to the handle portion.

In the modified form' illustrated in Figs." 5 "throughl, the handle portion 28 is also readily molded from plastic material or the like, and --follows' a general conventional outline. However,

in the present instance, at one end of the handle fportion Iform'a seat 29,-defined by an end wall 130 having the opening 3| for receiving the 'rod A brush insert-is designated 38, and is adapted When so fitted,

her as described withreferen'ce to Fig. 1.

In the modified form, it will be observed that lithe rod 32 cannot be removed entirely from the h andlerportion 28. ,When head 36 is threaded out'of the socket 31, the'rod 32 can be partially withdrawn, sliding in the bore 33. However, ultimately collar 35 will come against the inner end of the counter bore 34, preventing complete withdrawal of the rod.

However, when the rod has been partially withdrawn in this manner, it will clear the seat 29 entirely, so that a new brush insert can be placed 'the seat. "'Alternativelyfaunassage'insert 39 of sponge rubber material orthe like can be subsituted for the brush insert, and to this end, I 'form in the massage insert a longitudinal rod receiving opening 40. The tooth engaging porft'ion' of the massage insert is preferably transversely rounded as at 4|.

What-is claimed is: A device of the class described including a 'handle portion comprising oppositely extended parallel arms, a connecting portion joining the inner ends of the arms, and oppositely directed end walls onthe outer ends of-the arms, said endwalls and connecting portion having aligned openings, a rod extended through all the openings, a tooth engaging insert slidably adjustable along one arm, a second tooth engaging insert mounted on the other arm, said inserts being held to the respective arms by the rod, and means for retaining the second mentioned insert in a select ed position on the adjacent arm. p

' EVALYN R. KENNA.

' mana ers CITED -The following referencesare ofrecordin-"the file of this patent:

UNITED STATESPA'IENTS 

